Avalanche coach Joe Sacco is put his squad through another intense practice Monday, Day 2 of the abbreviated training camp leading into Saturday's opener at Minnesota.

The Avs used both sheets of ice at Family Sports Center and concluded the two-hour skate with a 26-man controlled scrimmage on the "Avalanche" side.

"The drills are good. There is good pace," Sacco said. "We're making sure each drill we do, we're doing it right, and we're doing it with a lot of pace. Once I see that drop, then it's time to slow down. As the week goes on — we play Saturday night — we'll have just crisp practices Thursday or Friday. They won't be as long as the first couple here."

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Forward Chuck Kobasew is back after missing Sunday with illness. He is skating with center Mark Olver and left-winger Cody McLeod on what is considered the fourth line.

The top three lines remained the same, with centers Matt Duchene, Paul Stastny and John Mitchell between Gabriel Landeskog and P.A. Parenteau, Jamie McGinn and David Jones, and Steve Downie and Milan Hejduk, respectively.

Young center Ryan O'Reilly, last season's leading scorer, remains in a contract dispute and is playing in Russia.

The Avs will continue camp Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m., and move to the Pepsi Center for a 9 a.m. practice Thursday. The final 23-man roster will be announced by Friday, when the Avs practice at 10 a.m. before traveling to Minnesota.

Sacco said he is leaning towards keeping 13 forwards and eight defensemen, instead of 14 forwards and seven D. That benefits 21-year-old defensemen Tyson Barrie and Stefan Elliott, one of whom will make the opening-night roster if Sacco sticks with his current plan.

Rockies are on pace to lose 93 games this seasonThe Rockies lost three of four in St. Louis and are on pace to lose 93 games as they come home for a three-game series with Seattle before going back on the road again to face Washington.